Twinsburg's Mike Labry (125), top, is in control on his way to a victory over B.J. Rhodes of Cuyahoga Falls. - (Lisa DeJong l PD)
A year ago, the Brush senior parlayed a runner-up finish at the league tournament with a state-placing a month later.
He wasn't the only one as 29 other NOC wrestlers found their way to Columbus after placing at the league tournament. Of those 29, 15 made their way to the podium at Value City Arena in Division I, including a state champion and runner-up.
"This [tournament] is great," Range said. "You usually don't see this kind of competition until districts. It kind of lets you know what you're going to do down the road."
Range opened his tournament Friday with a pin of Parma's Pat Juhn in 1:59 and reached the 145-pound semifinals with a 17-3 major decision over Cuyahoga Falls' Austyn Wilson.
"You know if you win this tournament, you're going to do something special down in Columbus," Range said.
Last year, Medina junior Mike Griffith upset Solon's Anthony Collica in the NOC Tournament finals and went on to finish eighth at the state tournament.
While pointing to last year's NOC success, Griffith (135) has since exploded onto the scene.
Griffith's day Friday began with a 96-second, first-round pin of Stow's Braxton Hornick. He then beat Elyria's Connor Kamczyc, 9-5, to pass former state champion Mark Balog as Medina's all-time career win leader with 132.
"This is where I really found out what my potential was last year," Griffith said. "It was a real confidence booster.
"You might not have as many kids here as you do at places like the Top Gun, but they're good kids. You run into guys ranked by [Brian] Brakeman and Bucksman [Josh Lowe]. It's the guys you'll see at sectionals and districts."
Success at the NOC Tournament isn't just limited to individuals. Two years ago, Elyria won the event and then placed sixth at state.
That's the best the Pioneers have done in Columbus since 1987, according to the team's coaching staff.
Elyria, which stands atop the standings with 81 1/2 points, has Armondo Torres (103), Matt Canon (119), Myles Wright (145), Devan Price (152), Jake Hebble (160) and Jason Gott (215) wrestling in today's semifinals. Twelve of the Pioneers' 13 wrestlers will be competing today as Elyria looks to become the first team to win the NOC Tournament twice.
Solon is second with 66 points and is followed by Medina (58), Brush (56 1/2) and Mayfield (55).
"This conference is awesome," Elyria coach Erik Burnett said. "There are real exciting dual meets and it all culminates into a fantastic tournament with great individual wrestling.
"Some kids come here and feel like they've had a good season. Then they have success and it turns into a great postseason. Suddenly, those kids are wrestling with confidence. If you do something here in conference, you should feel like you're going to place at state."
Today's semifinals begin at 12:30 p.m. and the finals are scheduled to start at 6.
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